rick m wrote:We are actually experimenting with a new propellant formulation that uses both KNO3 and NaNO3 combined with the sugar. I will be testing some motors this weekend at the FAR site using these propellants.

From what i remember from my Olevel chemistry the sodium nitrate will react slower and less energetically than the potassium one so are you trying for a longer slower burn? and if so do you think the lower air resistance losses will outweigh the larger gravity losses and get you to greater height from less energy?

Someone has to tilt at windmills.So that we know what to do when the real giants come!!!!

Great video! Out of interest, are other oxidisers any easier/cheaper to obtain, and do they work? For instance, ammonium nitrate, perchlorates (unstable, I guess), chlorates, or even peroxide? (I'm sure you've thought of or tried all these, but my ignorance knows no bounds!)

Cheers,P

Actually, for many things, I believe the chlorates can be more 'unstable' than the perchlorates used in military and commercial rocket motors. I have found different fuels and oxidizers can be easy/cheap or difficult/expensive depending on where you live. I haven't tried many out so in that regard my ignorance likewise knows no bounds. We did successfully static test our new propellant formulation yesterday at the FAR site http://www.friendsofamateurrocketry.org/that eliminates many of the problems we were having to contend with by using sorbitol. Heck, we even talked about starting our own aerospace company since we have two people interested in financially backing us if we did. I do it for fun right now and doing it as a job might change how I feel about it.

Completed the second test on Saturday in Lucerne Valley with our new propellant. The long single grain with twice the propellant had an offset core (moon burner); burn was successful. Will be doing the third test of the new propellant this weekend at FAR with six times the propellant as the second motor.

Third test of our new propellant was successful. A short casing was used to keep the pressure low with a nozzle throat sized for a longer casing. The motor also used a 2-segment unigrain made with three pours. Next test will be with the longer motor casing to bring up the pressure running a Kn of around 400.